Portable graphic arts work chest



March 27, 1956 F. FERRIS 2,739,863

PORTABLE GRAPHIC ARTS WORK CHEST Filed July 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l7 1/ l9 46 39 -/5 27 44 I 22 or -28 .5. l5" MAL-J4 INVENTOR Fwd 4k Les/A5 Fe rr/S.

I I) /6 BY I Vg I L ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 27, 1956 F RR PORTABLE GRAPHIC ARTS WORK CHEST Filed July 19, 1952 I FIIIIII/I A'IIIIIII I I. I

INVENTOR Hank/lb Zea/[e Err/L5 ATTORNEY PGRTABLE GRAPHTC ARTS WGRK CHEST Franklin Leslie Ferris, Kansas City, Mo.

Application July 19, 1952, Serial No. 299,877

ll Claim. (Q1. 312-231) My invention relates to a compact portable graphic arts work chest for use by advertising, newspaper and circulation men, editors, artists, illustrators, draft'smen, engineers, architects, designers, interior decorators, engravers, tool-makers, printers, lithographers, students, and the like, for use in advertising illustrations or production to facilitate and speed up work by providing all the necessary equipment, instruments and materials in readily available and accessible form to enable such workers to operate anywhere with maximum efficiency and speed.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable work chest for use by those practicing in the graphic arts such as stated, which embodies compactness and in which all the essential features and fixtures are built into the chest in such novel way as to support all the working materials in convenient positions so as to be readily accessible for use and so that the entire unit can be quickly closed up, locked and transported suit-case fashion from one locaticu to another or carried like a tool chest.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable work chest of relatively simple and novel construction which can be easily carried about the same as a suit-case and embodies an enclosing chest or case capable of being opened out to provide a drawing or work board which can be lowered for use or readily detached or demounted for use separate from the chest when desired; a top which has a carrying handle and can be locked to the drawing board which has double utility in that when in raised position it closes the front of the chest; an auxiliary or false back with an inside frame providing a storage space for accommodating and protecting large and small layout sheets or paper drawings, art work and the like; a novel arrangement of compartments, drawers and spaces for holding various materials and instruments used in art work, advertising layouts, mechanical design and drawings all conveniently accessible for use.

A further object is to provide filing spaces and removable cabinet or drawers for accommodating card index files, data, notes, addresses, stationery and supplies of various sizes which are always visible when pulled out for use, in addition to built-in recesses for paste pot, glue, ink bottle, artists colors, paints, brushes, etc., which prevents spilling when working or transporting the chest; spaces for accommodating Scotch tape, a stapler and indexed compartments for numerous tools and supplies and to organize same and work to be done, and capable of being locked up to prevent pilfering when not in use or when carried about.

A still further object is to provide a built-in foldable or foldaway frosted glass capable of being extended over a swiveled or pivoted electric light fixture and bulb within the upper part of the cabinet or chest capable of vertical adjustment to give the proper degree of light and with an extension cord and plug to be connected to a light socket for illuminating. the glass as indispensable for working on photographic-negatives, prints, tracings, croping, copying and many other uses, but which whennot in use, may be folded in compact form out'of the way in 2,739,863 Patented Mar. 27, 1956 a minimum of space in a top shelf space of the cabinet 01' chest space, with triangles held therebeneath.

A still further object is to provide means for holding a T-square in protected but readily available position at the bottom of the hinged cover of the chest, and to provide the sliding drawers with index card holders each having pull handle and to mount said drawers for sliding in and out in guides of simple and novel construction between the sides of the drawers and vertical partitions which divide the cabinet into compartments or pockets for the drawers, so as to support the drawers without requiring horizontal supporting shelves or partitions and in such a manner that the drawers are set back or in to accommodate the pull handles and permit the front wall formed by the drawing board to close fiat against the front edges of the sides of the chest to keep the sliding parts from shifting.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the description proceeds and the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts pointed out, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the claimed invention without departing from the principles and spirit thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of my portable graphic arts work chest opened up as when in use and the translucent ground glass or plastic tracing plate extended in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of the chest with the ground glass tracing plate extended over the light source, as in use.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section at right angles to Figure 2, taken on the section line 33 thereof.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the chest taken on the line 44 of Figure 2 and showing the pigeon hole arrangement of the lower compartments.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the chest closed and ready to be transported, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail vertical section taken on the line 66 of Figure 2 of the complete chest.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my portable graphic arts work chest consists of a substantially rectangular cabinet it) of a suitable material which is light and durable, such as wood, especially plywood, metal, plastic or otherwise. The cabinet is preferably relatively high and shallow and consists of a bottom wall 11, a vertical back wall 12, and vertical side walls 13 and 14 suitably secured together and reinforced if desired. The front wall of the cabinet is in the form of a drawing board 15 which is detachably hinged to the front edge of the bottom wall 11 as at 16, preferably with loose joint pin hinges so as to permit it to be lowered for use in a horizontal and forwardly inclined position, or removed entirely for use at any convenient place. This drawing board forming the front wall is adapted to be swung upwardly in closed position against the front edges of the side walls 13 and i i, beneath the forward marginal edge of a cover 17 which is hinged to the top edge of the back wall 12 or to a strip 13 along said edge as indicated at 19, said hinges being of any suitable type, such as piano hinges. The cover 17 is adapted to be swung over the top edge of the front wall 15 and may be secured in closed position by any suitable locking means such as a hasp 2t) and a padlock 21 after engaging over a hasp eye 22 carried by the front wall. The cover is also provided with a carrying handle 23, by which the chest may be conveniently and easily transported around by hand as desired by the user, or carried from place to placewherever needed for use. The cabinet if desired maybe supported on cushioned feet 24 attached to the bottom wall 11. I

At the back of the cabinet or chest in rear and externally of the back wall l2'is a false or auxiliary back 25 which is hinged to the rear edge of the bottom wall 11 as indicated at 26 and may be held against said back wall 12 in a suitable manner as by means of hooks 27 pivoted to the side walls 13 and 14 near the top to engage over keepers 28 fastened to the sides of the false back 25. As shown, the false back is made up of a rectangular frame 29 with a thin sheet covering on the outside which provides a large compartment space 341" between it and the back wall 12 for the reception and protection of large sized lay-out paper, art work and in fact all sizes of paper or other sheet material, drawing-paper, lay-out pads, finished and unfinished art work and plans which must be rotected and kept fiat, such construction providing a handy, convenient storage space and carrying compartment for various materials of this character, which are readily accessible when desired. Also, the cover 17 may swing back out of the way or used as a shelf, or may be left resting on the top edges of the side walls 13 and 14 or on some suitable support when swung back in an extended position and it is desired to have the top of the chest open.

The cabinet space between the enclosing walls of the chest is divided and equipped to hold various articles, including a movable and slidable pigeon hole arrangement or auxiliary cabinet 31 consisting of a bottom 32 which projects forwardly of a top 33 and is supported in spaced relation thereto by vertical partitions 34 at the ends and at least one intermediate point. The front edges of the top 33 may be provided with notches or cutouts 33' and the compartments thus provided are adapted to hold and protect smaller sheets of supplies, drawing-paper, letterheads, correspondence and various stationery and envelopes. This object is furthered by providing an upper and superimposed top 36 supported on the top 33 by vertical partitions 37 providing smaller pigeon holes therebetween preferably of different depths and as particularly shown in Figure 4 of the drawing for various sized sheets and with a clearance space 38 at one side and at the back thereof bounded by the back wall 12 and the side wall 14. The top 33 also projects forwardly of the partitions 37 and the auxiliary top 36 supported thereon. The auxiliary top 36 may be recessed as at 38 similar to the recesses in the top 33. This auxiliary cabinet may he slid in and out as desired on the bottom 11.

Above the pigeon hole cabinet 31 are a plurality of different sized drawers 39 which are of less depth than the side walls 13 and 14 so as to set back in from the front edges of the latter as particularly shown in Figure 6 of the drawing to provide space for accommodating card index holders or frames 40 having pull handles 41 or fluger pieces forming part of the card holders or frames also set back from the forward edges of the side walls 13 and 14 so that the drawing-board 15 forming the front wall may be fully closed against said edges. The shelves are slidably supported on horizontal guide strips 42 projecting on opposite sides of suitable vertical supports or partitions 43 between the respective drawers and at the inside surfaces of the side-walls 13 and 14. In order that the drawers may be slidably supported to be moved in and out independently, the sides thereof are horizontally grooved from front to back to form guide ways 44 to engage the guide strips or tracks 42. These drawers are designed to accommodate drawing instruments, pen-holders, pen-points, pencils, magnifying glasses, shears, small tools used by artists, engravers and printers, paper clips, thumb tacks, rubber bands, reinforcing and index tabs, hand punchers and pincers, etc. One drawer may be especially fitted with a movable shelf or other horizontal wall having recesses or compartments for containers holding artists colors, paints or tubes. The containers may be removable for cleaning or refilling and thus the containers or tubes are held secure when the chest is being transported or is in transit.

It should be noted-that the shelves are arranged and supported on a lower horizontal partition 45 and an upper 4 horizontal partition 46 fastened to the back wall 12 and the side walls 13 and 14, thus providing shelves for said drawers and dividing the chest into three compartments from end to end one above the other, one of said compartments or spaces being above the horizontal partition or shelf 46.

Above the horizontal partition or shelf 46 is a superimposed cabinet structure having a top wall 47 and a side wall 48 disposed to one side of the center of width of the cabinet 10. In the lower part of the smaller cabinet are sliding drawers 49 and 50 arranged side by side and having finger recesses 51. Above the drawers 49 and 50 is a wide drawer 52 having a finger recess 53. This drawer is supported on guides 54 carried by the side walls 13 and 48 by means of strips 55 attached to the sides of the drawer 52. These drawers, as well as the drawer 39, are adapted to accommodate index cards, drawing instruments, plans, ideas, designs and data, and may be equipped with locks to prevent access thereto except by an authorized person or user of the chest, thereby safeguarding such materials, plans and drawings, etc. as confidential. Of course, these drawers may be used to accommodate all materials as heretofore pointed out in connection with the drawers 39. The greater width of the compartment above the partition or shelf 46 between the side walls 48 and 14 is open to the top of the chest and is adapted to accommodate a tray or fitted top 56, having a grooved front block 57 extending the full width of this space at the front of the partition or shelf 46, to hold pencils, brushes, and other tools while working. The tray 56 has various sized and shaped holes for paste pots, glue and ink bottles, Scotch tape, etc., the latter being fitted in a recess 58 at the back near the side wall 48. This provides a space between the tray and the back wall 12 as well as the side wall 14 of substantially L-shape to hold various other articles such as the necessary tools, shears, paper fasteners, bottles of ink, paste pots, water jars and the like which will fit snugly therein and thus be prevented from spilling where such is possible otherwise.

It should be noted that the top 47 terminates in spaced relation to the top of the chest at side wall 13 and back wall 12, the purpose being to accommodate a ground.

glass panel holding frame 59 which is hinged at one end to the inner end of the top 47 as at 60 and provided at the other end with a foldable leg 61 hinged to the other end of the frame 59 as at 62. The ground glass or translucent panel 63 and frame 59 are adapted to be swung back over the top wall 47 and the leg 61 folded against the top thereof when not in use so that it will be accommodated in the space above the top wall 47. However, when the translucent panel is in use for making tracings, retouching photographic or projector films and transparencies; for the cropping and preparation of commercial photo prints; for making drawings with a stylus in mimeograph stencils and for other types of tracings and drafting where a diffused, translucent or frosted light is required, this device is extended as shown in Figure 2. It then projects over the tray 56 and the leg 61 is dropped down to rest on the horizontal partition or shelf 46. A swiveled or pivoted light bracket 64 is fastened to the back wall 12 beneath the glass panel 63 in its extended position and carries a light bulb 65 for illuminating the work on the panel. The swiveled or pivoted mounting of the light fixture permits it to be swung up and down to the desired height and distance from the panel to give the proper degree of light and the fixture has an extension cord and plug which may be inserted in any base or wall socket of the building or house-wiring supply circuit for current supply. This device, however, does not interfere with access to the tray and space above the shelf 46 and in materials located therein.

Thus, it will be seen that I have produced a very compact, portable work chest in which the various instruments or materials are sufficiently organized and may be classified by means of identifications on the drawers to indicate where they are kept so as to be efiiciently organized and readily accessible by reason of being found where intended. Also, spring clips 66 may be fastened under the cover 17 to hold a T-square 67, long rulers, slide rules and the like, although the latter may be held in one of the compartments or drawers. All of the necessary equipment is held in a well organized and condensed or small space and because of the arrangement, construction and novel combination of elements as described, a production man can unlock the chest and begin work on the job and instantly with all the tools, materials and supplies which may be necessary for executing such work, conveniently at his finger-tips. All needed items are quickly available for use without any wasted time or lost motion and at the same time, the chest can be quickly folded up and locked for transporting or conveniently carrying the same to another location or stored away in a small space when not in use. This will be particularly advantageous to those interested in time and motion studies for production workers as it is specifically designed to help production and creative men to save hours of valuable time and to permit the work to be done with maximum speed and eifort. Also, the supplies and materials, art work, drawing papers, stationery and envelopes are kept neat, flat and in better condition. Drawing instruments, slide rules, brushes, triangles which may be accommodated on the glass panel 62 when folded back, as well as T-squares, pens, pencils, paste pots and artists colors or inks will be kept in better condition and last longer because of being stored in compartments, etc., and will prolong the life and usefulness of such items. The drawers may be indexed or labeled so that the tools or other accessories will be put back in their proper places and chances for loss are greatly reduced. Obviously, the device can be used anywhere, in the office, drafting room, shop or wherever the work at hand is located, at home or readily transported in the manner of a suitcase to difierent places where it is necessary to travel for the purpose of executing the work at hand and in absolute privacy if necessary or where the light is especially favorable. The drawing board also serves as a handy desk top since it can be swung at any desired inclination or quickly detached from the main unit and used apart from the chest itself wherever desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A portable graphic arts work' chest comprising a chest having fixed bottom, end, and back panels, a top panel hinged to the back panel, and front panel hinged to the bottom panel, at least two horizontal partitions extending between said end panels and back panel and fastened thereto for subdividing the interior of said chest, at least two vertical partitions spaced from each other and from said end panels and extending between and secured to said horizontal partitions, drawer guide strips secured to said end panels and vertical partitions, drawers having grooves in the sides thereof for receiving said guidestrips, said drawers slidably mounted on said guidestrips, said drawers being in tiers of at least two with each drawer supported independently of adjacent drawers, a cabinet supported upon the uppermost of said horizontal partitions, a tracing glass frame, and hinge means securing said frame to said cabinet for movement of said frame from folded position on top of said cabinet to open position adjacent said cabinet and above the uppermost of said horizontal partitions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 860,444 Byers July 16, 1907 1,039,548 Kral Sept. 24, 1912 1,490,917 Finkelstein Apr. 22, 1924 1,984,345 Kennedy Dec. 11, 1934 2,242,745 Coxhead May 20, 1941 2,275,373 Barrett Mar. 3, 1942 2,351,610 Hamberg June 20, 1944 2,480,876 Paden Sept. 6, 1949 2,503,807 'Dolas Apr. 11, 1950 2,582,575 Young Jan; 15, 1952 

